Liquid atomization apparatus



Feb. 8, 1966 w. A. GRAHAM LIQUID ATOMIZATION APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May '7, 195

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LIQUID ATOMI ZATION APPARATUS Filed May 7, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

' Ward 74/71 BY Efl' %f A ORNEK Feb. 8, 1966 w. A. GRAHAM LIQUID ATOMIZATION APPARATUS Filed y 7, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 51 77 1%, 10a 82 Mm 'TTOR N E Y5,

United States Patent 3,233,655 LIQUID ATOMIZATION APPARATUS Ward A. Graham, Kansas City, Mo, assignor to Stratford Engineering Corporation, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Filed May '7, I964, Ser. No. 366,935 7 Claims. (Cl. 159-4) This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 112,270, filed May 24, 1961, now abandoned, entitled Multiple Orifice Atomizing Evaporator, and my application Serial No. 366,217, filed April 30, 1964, entitled Mixing Atomizing Rotor.

This invention relates to methods of atomizing liquids and devices therefor and refers more particularly to such methods and devices wherein a carrier or reactant gas in introduced relative to an atomizing spray rotor in such manner as toimprove the atomization thereat.

This invention is an improvement over Patent No. 2,368,049 to C. W. Stratford, issued January 23, 1945, entitled Atomizing Evaporator, and Patent No. 2,990,011 to Herbert W. Stratford, issued June 27, 1961, entitled Flash Evaporator Rotor.

The patent to C. W. Stratform, supra, describes an atomizing rotor which discharges liquid feed, reduced to small particle size, in a horizontal plane at high velocities. The patent to H. W. Stratford, supra, discloses the use of a critical size orifice in an atomizing rotor in obtaining certain results in the atomization of liquids of differing specific gravities. In such atomizing procedures and apparatus, the particle size of the liquids ejected from the atomizing rotor is a direct function of the fixed gap or orifice dimension in the atomizing rotor. Other factors which contribute to particle size are the speed of rotation, viscosity, and surface tension of the liquid feed, etc.

As an example of the operation of a rotor of the type of H. W. Stratford, Patent 2,990,011, supra, if one gram of water was reduced to spherical particles of uniform size each of 0.001 inch diameter, the number of particles would be 1.17 times 10 and the combined surface area of these particleswould be 2.55 square feet. On the other hand, if the particles were of 0.010 inch diameter, the number would be 1.17 times 10 and the total surface area would be 0.255 square feet. As is shown by this example, larger particle diameters result in fewer particles and in markedly less surface area.

C. W. Stratford Patent 2,368,049 discloses the use of a carrier gas rising through a blanket of such atomized particles sprayed from the rotor whereby to contact the exposed surface area thereof. The carrier gas referred to would contact only the above calculated surface areas and the action of the gas on the liquid would be limited by this interfacial contact area. The velocity of the gas, below that of the velocity of the liquid particles, would produce no additional particle breakdown.

An object of the invention is to provide methods of and apparatus for improved atomization and increase of surface area of atomized particles in atomizing and particle spray devices and systems.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved methods of and apparatus for atomizing liquid particles for removal of more volatile constituents from liquid mixtures.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved methods of and apparatus for contacting gases with atomized liquid particles whereby a maximum contact of the gas with the liquid particles is achieved and great improvements over the prior art in such.

Another object of the invention is to provide methods 3,233,655 Patented Feb. 8, 1966 liquids to be discharged from flash evaporator rotors whereby to produce very high degrees of turbulence at the rotor lip thereby resulting in atomization of completely new orders compared to that known to the art.

Another object of the invention is to provide methods of and apparatus for gas-liquid turbulent atomization wherein the gas may first aid in at-omizing the liquid discharge from a spray rotor on its initial entrance into the atomzation zone and then recontact the liquid particles as it is exhausted from the atomization zone.

Another object of the invention is to provide such methods of and apparatus for improved atomization of liquids and gas contact therewith as may he applied in many fields, such as steam and gas deodorizing and stripping of liquid feeds, vapor-liquid reaction systems and vapor-liquid absorption systems.

Another object of the invention is to provide methods of and apparatus for gas-liquid atomization which can produce particles in the range of 15 microns or less, even going as low as 1 to 2 microns in some instances.

Another object of the invention is to provide methods of and apparatus for deodorizing liquids which permit the accomplishment of results comparable to any prior art deodorization or vapor stripping operation with the use of less steam or stripping gas, a lower operating temperature or less system residence time.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved methods of and apparatus for super-atomizing a liquid utilizing a centrifugal atomizing rotor and a cooperating high velocity gas blast, the latter not only cooperating with the liquid atomized from the rotor for further subdivision thereof, but also with the rotor itself for the same purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel atomizing rotor and cooperating gas blast wherein liquid atomized from said rotor is controlled by said gas blast in a unique wedging and wiping action whereby to greatly facilitate further subdivision of the liquid and/ or achieve unique mixing effects with the gas blast blast.

Another object of the invention is to provide unique methods of and apparatus for super-atomizing liquids dispersed from a multiple orifice atomizing rotor and for mixing gas with said liquid, same utilizing a plurality of high velocity gas blasts.

Another object of the invention is to provide methods of and apparatus for effectively utilizing a'super-atomizing and mixing gas blast with a multi-feed chamber liquid at-omzing rotor, same independent of whether the atomizing rotor has one or more atomizing orifice gaps.

Another object of the invention is to provide methods of and apparatus for dehydration and/ or cooling of liquid to produce solid particles of a particular size.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear in the course of the following description thereof.

In the drawings, which form a part of the instant specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith, embodiments of the invention are shown and, in the various views, like numerals are employed to indicate like parts.

FIG. 1 is a side view partly in section and cut away to show a flash vaporization and evaporator vessel including one form of the inventive apparatus installed therein.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section through the upper portion of the vessel of FIG. 1 showing details of the rotor and vapor discharge ring adapted to practice the invention.

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a vessel similar to that of FIG. 1 showing a second form or arrangement of the gas input means and vaporizing rotor to practice the invention.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through an evaporation and vaporizing vessel similar to those of 3 FIGS. 1 and 4, a third modification of the apparatus for practicing the inventive process there shown, with gas input rings positioned both above and below the atomizing rotor.

FIG. 6 is a view of the discharge side of a first form of a gas ring employable in the apparatus of FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, circular orifices employed to jet the carrier, atomizing or stripping gas therefrom. FIG. 7 is a view of the discharge side of a second type of gas discharge ring analogous to that of FIG. 6, portions cut away to better illustrate the structure, the discharge means comprising a slot.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of vapor input ring adapted to be used in the apparatus of the various figures in a modified manner to be described, a portion of the construction cut away to better illustrate the position of the vapor discharge slot.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary section of a modified form of rotor having the peripheral portions of the rotor discs of modified construction with the gas blast cooperating therewith in a wedging and/ or wiping action.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view analogous to that of FIG. 9, but showing a rotor utilizing an interior feed divider plate in the manner of my application Serial No. 366,217 filed April 30, 1964, the periphery of the rotor formed in a manner similar to the structure of FIG. 9 and gas blasts cooperating therewith in like manner.

FIG. 10a is a view identical with that of FIG. 10 but showing the use of but a single gas blasting means therewith.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view of a multiple orifice atomizing rotor analogous to certain of those shown in my application Serial No. 254,215, supra, the figure illustrating the application of gas blasts with respect to a plurality of atomized liquid particle screens produced from a single rotor.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, at 1% is shown a vessel having an upper portion 10a of its wall inclined both upwardly and inwardly relative to the interior of the vessel, relatively vertical side walls, and a lower wall 1% inclined both downwardly and inwardly relative to the interior vertical axis of the vessel. On top of vessel 10 is a motor mounting 11 which supports a motor 12.

Referring particularly to FIG. 2, opening 13 formed in the top center portion of the vessel wall 10a and receiving rim 14 is fastened thereto by welds or other attachments 15. Mounting plate 16 is fixed within the rim 14- by bolts 17. The motor mounting 11 is welded or otherwise fixedly attached to the mounting plate 16 by attaching means or welds 18. Shaft 19 is a continuation of or fixed to the drive shaft of the motor 12 and is driven in rotation thereby. Plate 16 has an opening 20 centrally thereof. by bolts 22, extends therethrough, and has fitting 23 extending from one side thereof, as well as recessed portions 24 at the lower end thereof. Pipe 25 is supported by bolt 26 relative to support tubes 21 and surrounds shaft 19 with sleeve bearing 27 fixed to the inside surface thereof whereby to maintain shaft 19 in position relative thereto. Feed annulus 23 between the outside of pipe 25 and the inner surface of tube 21 connects at its upper end with the bore of fitting 23 whereby to permit feed of fluids to 'bc flash evaporated, separated, treated, etc. therefrom.

Accelerating disc 29 (also see FIG. 3) forming the lower surface of the atomizing rotor, has opening 30 centrally therethrough to receive a lesser diameter portion 19a of shaft 19 therethrough. Nut 31 engages the threaded bottom portion 19b of shaft 19 and fixes the accelerating disc relative to the end of the shaft. The upper central portion of accelerating disc 29 abuts the under surface of the slightly greater diameter portion 190 of the shaft. The upper surface of the accelerating disc is also recessed as at 29a to permit positioning of the lower Support tube 21 is fixed to the plate 16 l end of pipe 25 in close association therewith. Disc 29 is preferably angled slightly upwardly in cross section as it extends outwardly from the central portion thereof.

Shrouding disc 32, forming the upper portion of the atomizing rotor, is fixed by bolts 32a to accelerating vanes 33 which, in turn, are fixed to accelerating disc 29. Shrouding disc 32. is preferably substantially horizontal, that is, fixed essentially at right angles to shaft 19. Shrouding disc 32 has upwardly extending central portion 34' which is recessed or indented to permit semiengagement of tube 21 and disc 32 and a portion of tube 21 to overlie a portion of the top edge of disc 32. Disc 32 and tube 21 are spaced, one from the other, to permit close rotation of disc 32 relative to tube 21 without contact therewith.

The annulus or space between accelerating and shrouding discs 29 and 32 connects at its inward end with the annulus between pipe 25 and tube 21 to permit feed of liquids or fluids to be stripped, flashed or treated into the rotating rotor where vanes 33 will hurl it through the orifice.

The orifice or circumferential opening 35 at the periphery of the two discs, to effectively operate to properly disperse the fluids, must be formed by two edges which are essentially vertically in line and preferably not over .020 of an inch apart. If either the periphery of the shrouding disc or the periphery of the accelerating disc extends past the other or the orifice therebetween exceeds .020 of an inch, the apparatus will not eflfect as efiicient dispersal of the liquids or fluid to be stripped or flashed. The upward angling of the accelerating disc or, indeed, the relative angle of either of the discs relative to shaft 19, is not critical, provided the peripheries of both discs are essentially vertically in line and the orifice is of an aperture substantially in the range of from 1 to 20 thousandths of an inch.

The Stratford Patent No. 2,990,011, supra, discloses a flash evaporator discharge orifice SiZe range of from 2 to 15 thousandths of an inch operative to produce certain critical results. The instant improvement extends the feasible orifice range of an atomizing rotor upwardly depending upon the velocity and quantity of vapor injected in the instant process. However, in actual practice of the process, the quantity and velocity of gas injection are both subject to limits, whereby the upward extension of the orifice gap range noted for any given task is also limited.

Referring again to FIG. 1, legs 36 support vessel 10 and an opening is positioned preferably centrally of the bottom well ltlb of the vessel withdrawal olf line 36a leading therefrom with pump 36b connected thereto. Vacuum line 36c draws preferably from the top portion of the vessel and is connected to any suitable pressure reduction means of conventional type.

In operation of the rotor, per se, the liquid or fluid mixture to be treated is introduced into the fitting 23 where it passes down annulus 28 and into the space between shrouding and accelerating discs 32 and 29. In the throat of the rotor, the fluid is picked up by vanes 33 and rotation of the discs by shaft 19 moves the liquids or fluid mixture outwardly where it is projected through orifice 35 in the form of discrete particles of small dimensions which travel from the orifice to impinge upon the vessel wall. In certain applications of the invention, it is desired to elevate the rotor to impinge upon the upwardly and inwardly inclined surface 1% to aid coalescence and downward movement of the relatively viscous nonvolatile liquid. More volatile constituents are evaporated from the finely divided energized particles during the traverse, such volatiles, in the form of Water vapor, gases and the like being withdrawn from the confined space within the vessel through the vacuum outlet 360. A typical vacuum maintained in the vessel under certain operative conditions for certain operations would com- .upon the variables listed above.

prise the range of one-half to ten inches of mercury absolute pressure.

Having described the state of the art and, to my knowledge, the most advanced state of the art in the flash evaporator rotor field, I propose the following modifications of, additions to and improvements relative to this equipment to obtain the objects previously set forth.

I propose to direct a vapor or gas stream at specified velocities closely across the lip or discharge orifice of the spinning rotor. Such a vapor stream or gas particle jet can be provided by so placing a vapor or carrier gas injection ring or other injection means so that it will discharge such vapor or gas particles in a direction preferably perpendicular or nearly so, to the plane or trajectory of the liquid particles emerging from the discharge gap of the rotor. I pass the vapor stream through a series of orifices, holes, openings, or a fine slot or slots or a combination thereof drilled or formed in said ring, preferably in a circle of equal diameter or slightly greater diameter relative to that of the rotor and its discharge orifice. The vapor or gas particle stream or streams can be directed either downwardly or upwardly or simultaneously in both directions, in the former cases from a single injection ring or device or in the latter case from two different injection rings or devices simultaneously.

A-tomization being proportional to the vapor velocity, this, in turn, can be increased by increasing the gas pressure in the distributor ring or rings. Gas-liquid atomization as described will produce particles with diameters of 15 microns and less, even going as low as one to two microns in some instances. If one gm. of Water is atomized to spherical particles of 15 micron diameter, the number of particles would be 5.62 l and the total surface area of the particles 4.26 sq. feet. For particles of 10 micron diameter, the same gram of water would yield 1.93 1O particles with a total surface area of 6.25 sq. feet. micron diameter particles would number 1.54 with a total surface area of 13.04 sq. feet. Thus, it can be seen that this improved method of introducing the gas relative to the flash evaporator rotor results in approximately 5 to 10 thousand times as many particles and approximately 1.5 to 60 times the surface area exposed.

The impingement of the input gas stream into the liquid discharged at the rotor orifice, at velocities higher and preferably much higher than the liquid velocity, produces a high degree of turbulence at the rotor lip resulting in increased atomization of the degree above-described. With vapor take-oif nozzle 36c located on the same side of the liquid film as the vapor injection ring, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, injected vapor both atomizes the liquid feed or increases atomization thereof, on its initial entrance and then recontacts the liquid particles from the rotor orifice as it reverses direction and is exhausted via take-otf nozzle 36c.

Variables aflecting the velocity of the vapor or gas input through an injection ring or rings include (1) varying the diameter and/or number of holes drilled in the ring or the width of the slot cut therein, (2) the quantity of vapor introduced, (3) the temperature of the vapor introduced, (4) the absolute pressure maintained within the shell or vessel 10 and (5 the pressure drop across the injection ring.

The distance between the inlet vapor ring holes or slot and the discharge gap or orifice of the rotor also contributes to the degree of atomization obtained. For finest atomization, this distance should be approximately inch to A2. inch. For lesser degrees of atomization, the difference may be increased to /2 to 1 inch, depending Since revolutions per minute of the rotor in the ran e of 700 to 10,000 rpm. are common and, indeed, necessary in many cases, a certain clearance must be maintained between the vapor input ring or rings and the rotating rotor. above, the closer the vapor input ring 18 placed in vertical However, as seen spacing to the rotor itself, the better results obtained. Likewise, the closer in lateral spacing the gas injection ring is in its injection zone to the orifice lip, the better results obtained.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, therein is shown a form of the invention wherein the gas or vapor injection ring is positioned closely above the rotor whereby to inject, blast or flow vapor or gas downwardly across the rim of the rotor or orifice gap thereof whereby to increase the atomization produced by the rotor itself. It should be particularly noted that, in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and v5, the vertical spacing of the injection ring or rings from the rotor and the orifice gap therein has been exaggerated for clarity of illustration. In FIGS. 1 and 2, input flow pipe passes through the side wall of vessel 10, and is sealed therethrough. In FIGS. 1 and 2, input flow pipe 40 passes through the side wall of vessel 10, and is sealed therethrough. Pipe 40 curves downwardly to a vertical portion 4dr: immediately above the circular gas injection ring 4.11. Ring 41 is circular both in plan view and in cross section and has, in the example shown, an elongate slot or orifice gap 42 formed in the underside thereof whereby to discharge vertically downwardly gas or vapor injected into pipe 40. As seen in FIG. 2, the gas injection relative to the rotor is preferably vertically downward immediately at the rotor periphery whereby to provide turbulent impact of gas and liquid as close to the orifice gap as possible. The Width of slot 42 is dictated by the quantity and velocity of gas required by the specific operation. As a typical example, in a ring of 20-inch diameter and having an internal volume of 800 cubic inches, a slot width of A inch would be typical. In the systems of FIGS. 1 and 2, as previously described, injection of gas through the screen of particles thrown out by the rotor will result in twice contacting the gas with the particles, once as they pass downwardly through the screen and secondly as they are drawn upwardly and out of the vessel through discharge vacuum line 360. The atomized liquid particles coalesce on the side wall of the vessel and pass downwardly to the lower portion thereof to be withdrawn through line 36a under impetus of pump 3612.

In FIG. 4, there is shown input pipe 43 passed, in sealing fashion, through opening 44 in the vessel side wall 10, pipe 43 having upwardly angled portion 43a which connects to circular ring 44 of the character previously described relative to FIG. 1. Again, ring 44 has circumferential slot or orifice gap 45 therein, the gap positioned to discharge vapor or gas vertically upwardly and normal to the line or trajectory of discharge of liquid particles from the rotor shown in FIG. 4. Parts of the rotor in FIG. 4 indentical to those in the rotor showing of FIGS. 1 and 2 are numbered the same, but primed. It is assumed that the rotor construction of FIG. 4 is identical to that of FIGS. 1 and 2. In the event that: the vacuum discharge line (not shown in this view) is positioned above the rotor, there will only be one pass of the gas through the screen of particles thrown out by the rotor before removal thereof from the vessel. On the other hand, if the vacuum line or vapor withdrawal line is connected to the vessel below the rotor, two passes of the gas through the particles will result, in the same manner as in FIG. 1, as the gases will be drawn back through the sceen of particles for removal from the vessel. One objection to the modification of FIG. 4 in the processing of particularly viscous liquids is the presence of pipe 43 in wall 10 below the impact point of the liquid on the wall... This may result in some build-up of liquid on the pipe in the drain ofl process if the viscosity thereof is high. Therefore, alternatively, the pipe 43 may be brought in vertically from the bottom of the vessel.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is again shown a vessel and rotor construction analogous to that in FIG. 1, parts thereof identical thereto numbered the same, but double primed. In this modification of the invention, a pair of gas injection rings are provided, one positioned above and one positioned below the rotor orifice, the upper one discharging gas downwardly through the particle screen from the rotor, the other discharging upwardly therethrough. The modification of the invention is particularly adapted to a gas injection ring of the form shown in FIG. 6 wherein jet openings would be positioned at spaced intervals in the discharge portions of each ring opposite the rotor discharge gap, but the openings staggered relative to one another on the different rings. Alternatively, the continuous slot discharge may be employed in one or both of the rings whereby to produce a maximum impact and turbulence next to the orifice rotor gap and maxim ze the particularization of the liquid passing therefrom. In this case one ring and its slot are preferably spaced at a greater radial distance as in FIG. 5. Under certain circumstances, such as the case where two different composition gases are blasted into the liquid particle screen, one from each ring, and a maximum mixing and contacting effect is desired of the gas and liquid particles, the opposed gas blast screens may be positioned precisely or substantially radially equidistant from the rotor orifice gap. The angle of the outermost of the two gas blast screens with respect to the path of the liquid particle screen, when same are not positioned radially equidistant from the rotor gap, may be varied from the usual normal angle of impingement whereby to effect some circumferential directional control of the screen or sheet of liquid particles after the initial gas screen blast impact thereon. In each case the spacing of the discharge rings relative to the rotor laterally and vertically as given above are preferably employed and the velocities of injection preferably greater than the velocity of liquid discharged from the rotor.

The structure of FIG. specifically comprises inlet pipes 46 and 47 having downward and upward bends 46a and 4701, respectively, connecting the pipes to rings 46b and 471), respectively. Rings 46b and 4711 have discharge slots 46c and 470 therein opposed to one another and firing across the rotor discharge gap at different radial distances or the angle of one could vary outwardly as in FIG. 8. Pipes 45 and 47 extend through sealed openings 48 and 49 in the vessel wall Gas injected through ring 4612 has two passes through the screen of particles before withdrawal line 360, while only one pass occurs for gas injected through ring 47]).

In the modification of FIG. 5, in a process of cooling, as opposed to atomizing, two relatively lower velocity gas jets are able to achieve the same or comparable effects as one relatively higher velocity gas jet. In such cooling, the velocity of the gas jet may be below the liquid discharge velocity from the rotor in achieving comparable results to a higher velocity discharge from a single slot. It is true of the FIG. 5 arrangement, as is the case in FIG. 4, that, by using the gas injection system, atomization or particularization of liquids can be achieved which cannot be atomized or particularized through the rotor alone. Likewise, with the double gas ring system of PEG. 5, as in the case of FIG. 4, the use of the gas injection system permits the achievements of the results of the H. W. Stratford Patent 2,990,011, supra, with the use of a relatively larger orifice gap in the rotor than is the case with the rotor alone. Yet further, the use of gas injection, either single or double rings as in FIGS. 4 and 5 permits the use of a relatively larger orifice gap, whether or not it is in the H. W. Stratford patent, supra, range in processing any given liquid to any desired final product, although the efficiency will drop somewhat in such case.

With increase in quantity and velocity of gas injection through any given ring injection system as in either FIG. 4 or FIG. 5, relative to the velocity and mass of the liquid particles being ejected from the rotor, variable effects may be achieved for various purposes. Thus, as mentioned above, cooling may be obtained at a relatively low gas velocity relative to the liquid particle velocity. As velocity and quantity of gas injection increase, the

effects change f om mere gas liquid contact to increasing actual deflection of the liquid particles in the direction of motion of the gas particles with increasing atomization of the liquid particles. The greater the angle of the line of travel of the gas injection particles to the liquid particle travel trajectory, the greater effect in atomization. Thus, in FIG. 8, with the gas particles traveling to a certain extent in the direction of motion of the liquid particles, there is a lesser effect than in the systems of FIGS. 4 and 5 where the angle of gas particle travel is normal to the liquid particle travel. If an eifect opposite to that of FIG. 8 is desired, the slot may be moved counterclockwise to some extent against the line of travel of the liquid particles.

FIG. 7 shows the discharge side of a typical gas injection ring 5h having a circumferential slot 51 in the discharge side thereof. In a circular cross section discharge ring, the siot 51 must be positioned centrally of a side thereof normal to the axis of the ring and the slot cut radially through the wall of the ring in order to have a vertical discharge.

FIG. 6 shows a discharge ring or gas injection ring 52 having a plurality of openings 53 on the discharge side thereof spaced equal distances apart and of identical diameters whereby to provide a plurality of jets of gas circumferentially spaced relative to a rotor. If desired, a plurality of connections to the ring 52 from the input pipe may be made to more precisely equalize gas flow pressure at various points in the ring. As in the case of FIG. 6, for vertical discharge or discharge from the holes 53 parallel to the ring axis, they must be formed or drilled centrally of a side normal to the ring axis, the holes radial relative to the ring.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of a gas atomization rotor-gas blaster array analogous to the showing of FIG. 5 (in that two substantially opposed gas blaster means are illustrated and may be employed together if desired) but differing therefrom in certain structural and operative points. The rotor is not detailed with respect to the drive and feed thereof as such may preferably be identical with the rotor construction seen in FIG. 2 as to drive, vessel mounting, liquid feed, accelerating vanes, etc.

The FIG. 9 rotor differs from that shown in FIG. 2 in only two characteristics. The first of these is that upper rotor disc 60 is preferably aligned in substantially true opposition to lower rotor disc 61, that is, the angle of extension of same with respect to the horizontal midplane of the rotor (through the orifice gap) is substantially equal to that of disc 61 both on the inner and outer surfaces thereof. This is not absolutely necessary, but is preferred and makes for easier fabrication and alignment of members of the atomization array with respect to one another. Secondly, the peripheral outer faces of disc 6t? and 63., as seen at 6% and 61a, are preferably extended and beveled whereby to provide two continuous circular ring surfaces angled with respect to one another. Outer faces 50a and 61a are preferably so extended and formed that they make a substantial right angle with one another with the atomizing orifice or slot 62 at the apex of the said angle. Orifice 62 is of a character as previously described and preferably of a Width not substantially greater than .029 of an inch.

A first hollow circular gas blasting header or ring 63 is provided above and peripheral to the periphery of disc 60. Suitable orificing 64 of any of the characters previously described, here shown as a continuous slot, is provided circularly and substantially continuously around the under and inner surface of ring 63 whereby to enable the production of a high velocity and energy, circular, substantially continuous, thin sheet or screen of gas particles. Said screen passes in the direction of and along the line or plane indicated by arrow 65, in a substantially frusto-conical orientation. Likewise, second gas blasting ring or header 66 is provided with suitable orificing 67 whereby to provide a like frusto'conical, substantially continuous, high velocity and energy sheet or screen of gas particles in a direction and along the plane indicated by arrow 68.

The direction of travel of each gas particle screen in FIG. 9 is at a substantial but acute angle to the initial (horizontal) plane of trajectory of the atomized liquid particles from the rotor gap, preferably substantially normal to one another and each preferably moving substantially normal to the opposed rotor disc peripheral face 60:: or 61a, respectively. Preferably, at least one of said sheets or screens, if both are employed, passes immediately next to the disc peripheral surface precedent to said gas particle screen reaching the orifice gap and is directed both into the orifice gap and against the innermost opposite disc peripheral surface next the orifice gap. Both screens or sheets of gas particles may take the last described path (in opposition or substantial opposition to one another) or, alternatively, the second screen may merely pass relatively closely adjacent its disc peripheral face and tend to impact against the opposed disc peripheral face slightly outwardly of said orifice. Yet further alternatively, both screens or sheets may take the latter described course, but this is not preferred as the maximal and optimal liquid mixing, fluid wedging, fluid wiping and liquid atomizing effects will not be achieved. Maximal effects of such character are achieved with both screen blasts crowded as far as possible into the wedging rotor peripheral surface structure and both firing partially into the rotor orifice. An outer, less sharply angled screen or blast of a pair of same may be employed primarily as a liquid particle screen direction control with flow volume, velocity, energy and direction varied as desired for said purpose, namely, to deflect to a greater or lesser degree the already considerably enturbulated and deflected plane or sheet of atomized liquid particles back toward the horizontal direction.

Rings 63 and 66 are preferably positioned as close to one another and the peripheries of rings 66 and 61 as possible, whereby there will be a minimum distance of travel before liquid particle screen impaction by the gas blast or blasts. The actions and effects achieved by the illustrated and described structures and processes of FIG. 9 with either single or double gas blast employed, include 1) increase of pressure at and immediately past the orifice gap, (2) increase of turbulence and mixing at and immediately past same, (3) shearing and increased atomization of the already atomized liquid particles emerging and emergent from the orifice gap, (4) wedging of fluids together within a limited space thereby markedly increasing the volume of high energy fluids compacted in said limited space, and (5) wiping and shearing of said liquid particles against the sharp orifice edges and peripheral disc surfaces whereby to further subdivide, contact, mix, shear, etc. the liquid being treated. If it is desired to mix different gases with said atomized liquid, the twoheader and two gas blast form illustrated in FIG. 9 is optimal. The headers and gas jet screens or sheets emerging therefrom are of a character previously described re the other figures with respect to parameters of flow, header orificing, etc., While the rotor parameters of diameter, rate of rotation, internal structure, orifice gap dimensions, etc. and the relative positions of headers and rotors are as described or as previously described with respect to the other modifications. Duplication of analysis of the fluid dynamics, etc. will not be undertaken. Variations of the use of two headers in various manners described re FIG. 5 may also be undertaken.

FIG. is a view very much like that of FIG. 9, indeed, the view differs therefrom only in the provision of a divider plate extending radially outwardly very closely adjacent the orifice gap itself. Upper disc 69 and lower disc 70 have outer peripheral faces 6% and 7% formed in the manner previously described with respect to faces 60a and 61a. Discs 69 and 70 thus are substantially identical to discs 60 and 61 with the exception that there is provided a central feed (not seen) to each disc with a drive means coupled to said discs and driving same in rotation, same arranged to permit said two, opposed, central liquid feeds separately to each disc. Such structure with respect to feed and drive is not shown or detailed as it is known to the art, conventional, or also shown in my application Serial No. 366,217, Mixing and Atomizing Rotor, supra. Divider plate 71 is beveled in its outer portion to fine edge 71a at the periphery thereof and serves to divide discs 69 and 70 and the feed zones thereof from one another throughout the entire radial extent of the discs 69 and 7ft save past edge 71a. Edge 71a preferably extends substantially into or just short of atomizing orifice '72 formed by the inner opposed edges at the inner periphery of discs 69 and 70. Thus edge 71a effectively becomes a part of or very nearly a part of the atomizing orifice, which orifice gap should not substantially exceed .020 of an inch in any portion thereof where liquid may be discharged outwardly therefrom. This is to insure proper initial atomization of the separate liquids fed above and below divider plate 71, as well as effective and initial mixing thereof substantially or precisely simultaneously with said atomization.

While a divider plate of lesser radial extent may be employed, the optimal high order last minute mixing and essentially simultaneous atomization is achieved only with a divider plate extending either just short of or substantially into (but not past) the said orifice. If edge 71a extends substantially into said orifice, the clearance between either of the disc lips and edge 71a should not substantially exceed .020 of an inch, while if edge 71a stops short of orifice 72, the width between the orifice defining lips themselves of the discs 69 and 70 preferably should not substantially exceed .020 of an inch. The inner surfaces of discs 69 and '70 and the outer beveled peripheral surfaces of divider plate 71 preferably run either substantially parallel with one another to said orifice or, more preferably, form decreasing volume wedging zones to said orifice.

Upper and lower headers 73 and 74 are preferably of a structure and operating character as previously described with respect to headers 63 and 66 of FIG. 9 and will not be redescribed. Suitable orificing "I5 and 78, here shown as a continuous circular slot is provided whereby to permit and eifect the production of one or more frusto-conical screens or sheets of gas particles in the manner previously described with respect to FIG. 9. This will not be redescribed.

In operation of FIG. 9, the liquid passing out of the orifice defined between discs 68 and 61 is atomized into fine particles and, in the preferred apparatus and process embodiment, as the particles or drops of liquid emerge from the orifice and form therethrough, same are blasted directly by one or more screens or sheets of high velocity gas particles of sufficient force and velocity to penetrate in considerable part through the forming screen of atomized liquid particles, shear same across the orifice gap and wipe same and deflect same in Wiping action against the orifice gap edge and the opposed rotor disc peripheral extended surface title or 61a. High pressure fluid wedging, super-atomization and greatly increased fluid turbulence also occur. Liquid particle screen flow direction may be regulated as described by the following gas particle screen jet.

Referring to FIG. 10, the action of the gas jets is or may be substantially the same as described with respect to FIG. 9, but in this case there is the added factor of the initial mixing of two different liquids, possibly with chemical reactions or physical effects as well as substantially simultaneous atomization. The gas particle screen or screens may operate as heat sinks to take up or give off heat to the reacting liquids or liquid mixture, may dilute or intensify the reaction, etc., depending upon the liquids and gases and physical and chemical effects. Edge 71a operates to change the character of the orifice gap as compared with that of FIG. 9, depending upon its relative extension, the existing of wedging areas, its form, position with respect to the orifice defining edges, etc. Divider plate 71 may greatly increase the fluid pressure, fiuid turbulence, particle subdivision, etc., in the zone of the orifice in addition to the orifice effects, mixing effects, and gas screen jet elfects already noted. Again, the previously described preferred parameters of rotor and header structure arrangement and operation will not be repeated.

FIG. 10a is a view like that of FIG. 10 except for the fact that the lower gas blasting means 74 is omitted. Therefore, the numbers of the structure in FIG. 10a are given as the same in FIG. 10, but primed. The operation of the device of FIG. 10a is the same as described with respect to the single gas blast of FIG. 9 on page 22, supra. Further description of the operation of the gas blast issuing from orifice 75' in FIG. 10a may be seen on page 20, line 16 through the end of page 21.

Referring to FIG. 11, therein is shown the adaptation of the gas atomization apparatus and process of the instant development to a multiple orifice atomizing rotor. The rotor structure is that shown in FIG. 2 of my application Serial No. 254,215, supra, and thus will not be redescribed in detail. Sufiice it to say that the rotor comprises an upper shrouding disc 77 and a lower accelerating disc 78. A hollow centered ring 7h of an outer diameter preferably precisely that of the equal outer diameter discs '77 and 78 is rigidly fixed adjacent the periphery of same and spaced apart therefrom whereby to provide two atomizing orifices of the character previously described. The outer portion of ring '79 is preferably outwardly beveled as seen whereby to provide liquid wedging zones into said orifices. A plurality of pins or bolts 80 fix ring 79 with respect to discs '77 and '78 with spacers (not seen) operating to maintain the desired rigid spacing therebetween. Such spacers may encircle pins 89. Accelerating vanes 31 received by the upper portion thereof in slots 82 in upper disc 77 and fixed therein by pins or bolts 83 serve to accelerate liquids outwardly toward said atomizing orifices. Typically, although not necessarily, a vertical drive shaft is fixed centrally to upper disc 77 centrally thereof whereby to drive same in rotation with the vanes, ring 79 and other disc '78, while a central feed orifice is provided in lower disc '7 8 to receive liquid into said rotor between discs 77 and 78. The parameters of diameter, speed or rotation, orifice gap, etc. are substantially the same with respect to said multiple orifice atomizing rotor as the single orifice rotors previously described.

At least one circular gas receiving and blasting header or ring 84 is positioned immediately peripheral to the rotor and preferably centrally of the outer surface of ring 79, but not in contact therewith. As is the case with the headers in FIGS. 9 and 10, the headers in FIG. 11 all have suitable pipe connections thereto to feed blasting gas thereinto in the desired quantities. Upper and lower orificing as at 84a and 84b is provided on the upper and lower inner portions of ring 84, here shown as continuous circumferential circular slots, but optionally any of the previous orifice constructions disclosed and described with respect to the other figures. For strength, ring 84 is preferably circular in transverse section whereby the paths of travel described by the substantially continuous gas sheets or screens produced upwardly and downwardly from ring 841, as seen by arrows and 86, are substantially frusto-conical and only semi-cylindrical. A sufficiently strong rectangular cross section header 84 may be employed to get a more cylindrical trajectory of the gas blast screens therefrom, but such is not necessary. The gas blast screens preferably impact directly at and across the atomizing orifices and at and across the upper and lower disc faces adjacent thereto, whereby to cross the slots or gaps in substantial contact or actual contact with the orifice-defining lips and shear and contact the forming particles or drops of liquid emerging from the orifice gaps.

The peripheral faces of discs '77 and 78 may be outwardly angled as seen in FIGS. 9 and 10 to provide an impacting surface for the screens or planes of gas particles moving along lines or planes S5 and 86. In such case, the optional upper and lower headers 87 and 88 would be moved outwardly and peripherally and discharge their gas screens inwardly in a frusto-conical manner, rather than in a substantially cylindrical circular screen or sheet as shown. Header 84 may be divided across the center of same, say horizontally, with upper and lower feed lines to the separate chambers of said header, if it is desired to use two different gases or two separate gas discharging chambers for some reason.

Headers 87 and 8S, optional, are employed when it is desired to counterblast in opposition to or inwardly or outwardly of the blasts from header 84. If inwardly thereof, arrows 85 and 86 would be directed to miss the orifice gaps and to impact on the disc peripheral faces. If outwardly thereof, as shown, orificing 87a and 87b would be so formed in headers 37 and 88 as to pass the gas blast screens or sheets formed or generated therefrom along the arrow lines or planes 89 and 9d passing closely adjacent the peripheral surfaces of discs '77 and 78 and impacting into the already deflected atomized liquid particle screen in such manner and at such velocity and energy as to either penetrate into same to sulficient degree to deflect same or penetrate therethrough in greater or lesser part to aid in increase of atomization, turbulence, pressure, etc. If both blasts are to be used for maximum mixing, turbulence creation and atomization, the orificing 87a and. 87b would be such as to pass the gas sheets or screens immediatley next to or in contact with the peripheral faces of rotors 77 and 78 so as to immediatley impact into said liquid droplets and particles emerging from the slots or gaps directly at same. Yet alternatively, the arrows 89 and 99 may be directed slightly inwardly so that the gas blasts from the headers 87 and 88 impact against the orifices in the manner seen at arrows 8S and 86.

Thus there have been provided methods of and apparatus for improved atomization of liquids and gas contact therewith applicable in many fields such as steam and inert gas deodorizing and stripping of liquid feeds, including petroleum waxes and vegetable oils, vaporliquid reaction systems including vaporized sulfur trioxide sulfonation or oxidation of various hydrocarbons, and vapor-liquid absorption systems including triethanolamine or liquid caustic absorption of carbon dioxide from a gas stream.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure and process.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Liquid atomizing means comprising, in combination,

circular rotating atomizing means for liquids operative to distribute a liquid fed thereto peripherally thereof in a substantially circular, substantially continuous fiat sheet of finely atomized particles of micro-dimens1on,

said distribution from said atomizing means accomplished through a substantially continuous annular atomizing orifice therein of a width not substantially greater than twenty-thousandths of an inch,

said orifice defined by peripherally aligned, coaxial, spaced apart liquid discharge lips in the periphery of said circular atomizing means,

hollow circular gas blasting means positioned at the periphery of said circular atomizing means and closely adjacent thereto orificed and operative to blast a substantially cylindrical, substantially continuous, jetted sheet of gas across and substantially normal to the plane of discharge from said atomizing orifice and immediately next said aligned lips at sufficient velocity and force whereby a substantial proportion of the gas particles in said cylindrical sheet penetrates through the said liquid particle sheet,

said gas particle sheet blasted through circular, substantially continuous, narrow orificing in said gas blasting means said discharge lips in said atomizing means forming said atomizing orifice configured so the discharge therefrom passes outwardly from, substantially normal to and across substantially right angled edges,

said cylindrical sheet of particles so positioned relative to said lip edges as to shear and additionally atomize droplets emerging therefrom as same move thereacross.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 including a second hollow circular gas blasting means positioned adjacent the periphery of said circular atomizing means and closely adjacent thereto and on the other side of said atomizing means orifice from the other gas blasting means said second gas blasting means orificed and operative to blast a second substantially cylindrical, substantially continuous, jetted sheet of gas across and substantially normal to the initial path of liquid travel from said orifice and closely adjacent said aligned lips at a sufficient velocity and force that a substantial proportion of the gas particles in said second sheet penetrate into the said liquid particle sheet and achieve a deflection of at least a portion of same,

said second gas sheet blasted through circular, substantially continuous, narrow orificing in said second gas blasting means.

3. Liquid atomizing means comprising, in combination,

circular rotating atomizing means for liquids operative to distribute a liquid fed thereto peripherally thereof in a substantially circular, substantially continuous, fiat sheet of finely atomized particles of micro-dimens1ons,

said distribution from said circular rotating atomizing means accomplished through a substantially continuous annular atomizing orifice of a width not substantially greater than twenty-thousandths of an inch,

said orifice defined by peripherally aligned, coaxial, spaced apart liquid discharge lips in the periphery of said atomizing means,

a ring extension of at least one of said discharge lips peripheral of said orifice and extending at an angle less than 90 to the initial trajectory of liquid dis tributed from said atomizing orifice,

hollow circular gas blasting means positioned at the periphery of said circular atomizing means and closely adjacent thereto orificed and operative to blast a converging substantially frusto-conical, substantially continuous, jetted sheet of gas across and at a substantial angle to the initial path of liquid from said orifice and closely adjacent said aligned lips at sutficient velocity and force whereby a substantial proportion of the gas particles in said jetted sheet penetrates into the said particle sheet and achieves a deflection of at least a portion thereof,

said gas blasting means on the opposite side of the sheet of atomized particles discharged from said atomizing orifice from said ring extension,

said gas blasting means itself so orificed as to direct said jetted gas sheet in a direction and manner operative to impact and impinge at least portions of itself and the liquid particle sheet against said ring surface,

said gas blasted through circular, substantially continuous, narrow orificing in said gas blasting means.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 including a like second ring extension of the other discharge lip and a like second gas blasting means positioned in opposition to and on the opposite side of the sheet of atomized particles discharged from said atomizing orifice from the other blasting means and said second ring extension operative to blast a second gas particle sheet at the surface of the second ring extension.

5. Liquid atomizing means comprising, in combination,

circular rotating atomizing means for liquids operative to distribute a liquid fed thereto peripherally thereof in at least two substantially circular, substantially continuous flat narrow sheets of finely atomized particles of micro-dimensions,

said atomized particle sheets axially displaced from one another,

said distribution from said annular atomizing means accomplished through a pair of substantially continuous atomizing orifices each of a width not substantially greater than twenty-thousandths of an inch,

said atomizing orifices each defined in said atomizing means by a pair of peripherally aligned, coaxial spaced apart liquid discharge lips in the periphery of said atomizing means, the two adjacent lips of said liquid discharge lips provided by a hollow centered ring received substantially centrally of said rotating atomizing means,

hollow circular gas blasting means positioned immediately peripherally of said circular atomizing means and said hollow centered ring therein, between said atomizing orifices and closely adjacent to the atomizing means, the ring and said orifices, said circular gas blasting means orificed and operative to blast a pair of converging, frusto-conical, substantially continuous, substantially oppositely traveling, jetted sheets of gas particles across and substantially normal to the plane of discharge from each said orifice and closely adjacent each. set of said aligned lips, said blasting means operative to blast said gas particle sheets at sufficient velocity and force that a substantial proportion of the gas particles therein penetrate into each of the said liquid particle sheets,

said gas particle sheets blasted through circular, substantially continuous, narrow orificing in said gas blasting means.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5 including a second circular gas blasting means positioned closely adjacent to the periphery of said circular atomizing means and on the other side of one of said orifices from said blasting means,

said second blasting means orificed and operative to blast a substantially cylindrical, substantially continuous, jetted sheet of gas across and substantially normal to the plane of discharge from the orifice of said atomizing means nearest said second blasting means and closely adjacent the periphery aligned lips of said nearest orifice.

said second blasting means operative to blast said cylindrical sheet at sufiicient velocity and force whereby a substantial proportion of the gas particles therein penetrates into one said liquid particle sheet,

said second blasting means positioned and orificed whereby said cylindrical gas particle sheet moves in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of movement of one of said first two gas particle sheets and closley adjacent thereto,

said third gas particle sheet blasted through circular,

substantially continuous, narrow orificing in said second gas blasting means.

7. Liquid atomizing and mixing means comprising, in

combination,

circular, rotating, mixing and atomizing means for liquids operative to distribute two liquids fed thereto peripherally thereof in a substantially circular, substantially continuous, flat narrow sheet of finely atomized particles of micro-dimensions,

said distribution, atomization and initial liquid mixing from said circular, rotating, atomizing means accomplished through a substantially continuous annular atomizing orifice of a width not substantially greater than twenty-thousandths of an inch in any portion thereof,

said orifice defined by peripherally aligned, coaxial, spaced apart liquid discharge lips in the periphery of said atomizing means and a divider plate substantially centrally positioned of said circular atomizing means and radially extending just short of said liquid discharge lips,

a ring extension of at least one of said discharge lips peripheral of said orifice and extending at an angle less than 90 to the initial trajectory of liquid distributed from said atomizing orifice,

hollow circular gas blasting means positioned at the periphery of said circular atomizing means and closely adjacent thereto, orificed and operative to blast a converging substantially frusto-conical, substantially continuous, jetted sheet of gas across and at a substantial angle to the initial path of liquid from said orifice and closely adjacent said aligned lips at suflicient velocity and force whereby a sub- 1'6 stantial proportion of the gas particles in said jetted sheet penetrates into the said particles sheet and achieves a deflection of at least a portion thereof, said gas blasting means on the opposite side of the sheet of atomized particles discharged from said atomizing orifice from said ring extension, said gas blasting means so orificed as to direct said jetted gas sheet in a direction and manner operative to impact and impinge at least portions of itself and the liquid particle sheet against said ring surface, said gas blasted through circular, substantially continuous, narrow orificing in said gas blasting means.

References Qited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,289,779 12/1918 Howard 159-4 X 2,368,049 1/1945 Stratford 1594 X 2,483,975 10/ 1949 Hoogendam 158-77 2,584,973 12/1952 Andermatt 159-4 2,621,966 12/1952 Jehlicka 239-223 2,869,175 1/1959 Ebbinghouse 182.5 2,990,011 6/ 1961 Stratford 1594 3,112,239 11/1963 Andermatt 159-4 FOREIGN PATENTS 264,992 10/1913 Germany.

348,332 2/ 1922 Germany.

530,613 12/1940 Great Britain.

111,119 8/1925 Switzerland.

30 NORMAN YUDKOFF, Primary Examiner. 

1. LIQUID ATOMIZING MEANS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, CIRUCLAR ROTATING ATOMIZING MEANS FOR LIQUIDS OPERATIVE TO DISTRIBUTE A LIQUID FED THERETO PERIPHERALLY THEREOF IN A SUBSTANTIALLY CIRCULAR, SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUS FLAT SHEET OF FINELY ATOMIZED PARTICLES OF MICRO-DIMENSION, SAID DISTRIBUTION FROM SAID ATOMIZING MEANS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH A SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUS ANNULAR ATOMIZING ORIFICE THEREIN OF A WIDTH NOT SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN TWENTY-THOUSANDTHS OF AN INCH, SAID ORIFICE DEFINED BY PERIPHERALLY ALIGNED, COAXIAL, SPACED APART LIQUID DISCHARGE LIPS IN THE PERIPHERY OF SAID CIRCULAR ATOMIZING MEANS, HOLLOW CIRCULAR GAS BLASTING MEANS POSITIONED AT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID CIRCULAR ATOMIZING MEANS AND CLOSELY ADJACENT THERETO ORIFICED AND OPERATIVE TO BLAST A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL, SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUS, JETTED SHEET OF GAS ACROSS AND SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE PLANE OF DISCHARGE FROM SAID ATOMIZING ORIFICE AND IMMEDIATELY NEXT SAID ALIGNED LIPS AT SUFFICIENT VELOCITY AND FORCE WHEREBY A SUBSTANTIAL PROPORTION OF THE GAS PARTICLES IN SAID CYLINDRICAL 